Most on Bethlehem City Council oppose Atiyeh's proposed drug rehab center

Express-Times Photo | LYNN OLANOFFDeveloper Abraham Atiyeh is proposing a 70-bed facility for adults at the former Calvary Baptist Church on Dewberry Avenue, pictured above, and another 60-bed facility for teens on a wooded site in the 3400 block of Linden Street.

Five of seven council members signed a letter, dated Friday, to the city’s zoning hearing board chairman, Constantine Loupos, stating they are contesting the project planned by developer Abraham Atiyeh planned for 111 Dewberry Ave., citing its proximity to the high school, a playground and an assisted-living facility.

Council President Robert Donchez, along with council members Jean Belinski, David DiGiancinto, Eric Evans and J. William Reynolds signed the letter.

“I did think it was important to be on the record to the neighbors … that we are listening,” Reynolds said Sunday.

While noting the zoning board must decide on the project, Reynolds said he and others on council who signed the letter “thought there were areas of concern.”

Atiyeh has proposed a 70-bed drug rehabilitation center at the former Calvary Baptist Church next to Bethlehem Catholic High School.

The zoners, who are holding a second meeting on the proposal beginning 6 tonight at Town Hall, held a five-hour meeting Oct. 19 without a resolution. The area allows for a rehabilitation center with a special exception granted by the zoning hearing board.

Neighbors of the proposed rehab site, who call themselves the North Bethlehem Action Committee, believe the facility will have an “extraordinary negative effect,” according to William F. Moran.

He said others in the neighborhood are outraged by the “irresponsible proposal.”

“You don’t put 70 adult drug offenders or drug users adjacent to a high school,” said Moran, a retired Northampton County judge.

Atiyeh disagrees, saying the development would include fencing, trees and 24-hour security.

“To say it’s going to be a negative impact is totally unfounded and hearsay,” he said. “They (neighbors) have no evidence of this.”

The North Bethlehem group sent a letter Oct. 24 to Mayor John Callahan to express opposition to the project, as well as another planned by Atiyeh at 2110 Center St. Moran said Callahan has yet to respond.

Efforts Sunday to reach Callahan or council President Bob Donchez were unsuccessful. Loupos, the zoning board chairman, also could not be reached for comment.

Atiyeh said Sunday that plans call for redeveloping the closed church. Assuming approval, he said, he hopes to have it ready next spring.